Ice skate attachment



United States Patent ICE SKATE ATTACHMENT Michael Mihalik, North Tonawanda, N.Y.

Application July 31, 1957, Serial No. 675,458

2 Claims. (Cl. 280-11.12)

This invention relates to an ice skate, and more particularly to an attachment for an ice skate for facilitating the use of the ice skate.

The object of the invention is to provide an attach-- ment for ice skates whereby persons learning to skate can more readily use the ice skates.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment for use with a conventional ice skate whereby persons such as learners, or beginners or children will be able to skate with greater ease and safety, the attachment of the present invention being in the nature of an additional runner or blade which is detachably connected to each skate so as to insure that the user has increased stability.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice skate attachment which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing an ice skate equipped with the attachment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the attachment of Figure 1 showing the device removed from the ice skate.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the attachment of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View illustrating a modification. I

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 14 of the drawings, the numeral designates a conventional ice skate which includes the usual shoe 11 and sole 12. The ice skate 10 further includes the usual posts 13 which have flanges 14 on their upper ends that are secured to the sole 12. An enlargement 15 is secured to the lower end of the post 13, and a blade 16 depends from the enlargement 15 and is secured thereto, Figure 3.

The present invention is directed to an attachment for the ice skate 10 whereby learners, children, or other persons can use the ice skate with greater ease or facility, and the attachment of the present invention includes a pair of spaced apart clamps which are each indicated by the numeral 17. Each of the clamps 17 includes a pair of similar body members 13, and each of the body members 18 embodies flat end portions 19 and a curved intermediate portion 20. Spacer pieces 21 may be arranged within the clamps 17 and the clamps 17 are adapted to surround the posts 13 of the ice skate. Suitable securing elements such as the bolt and nut assemblies 22 extend through the flat portions 19 for maintaining the body members 18 of the clamps 17 connected to the posts 13.

The attachment shown in Figures 1-4 further includes an L-shaped bar which is indicated generally by the 6 2,917,315 Patented Dec. 15, 19.59

numeral 24, and the bar 24 includes a vertically disposed portion 25 provided with a pair of slots 26 therein, Figure l. Bolts 27 which may have Wing nuts thereon, extend through the slots 26, and the bolts 27 are adapted to be secured to spacer members 23 which are secured to one of the body members 18 in any suitable manner.

The attachment of Figures 14 further includes an L- shaped runner which is indicated generally by the numeral 29, and the runner 29 includes a horizontally disposed flange or portion 30 which is arranged below the horizontal portion 28 of the bar 24, Figure 3. The runner 29 further includes a vertically disposed portion 31. Suitable securing elements such as bolt and nut assemblies 32 have portions thereof extending through a slot 33 whereby the portions 28 and 30 of the bar 24 and runner 29 can be adjustably connected together.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, the numeral 69 indicates a portion of a conventional ice skate which includes the usual enlargement 70 and blade 71. The attachment 72 of Figure 5 includes a clamping means 73 which has a construction that is similar to the previously described clamping means 17, and the clamping means 73 are adapted to be detachably connected to the posts which extend upwardly from the enlargement 70. A spacer member 74 is secured to the clamping means 73, and the bar 75 includes a first portion 76 which is secured to the spacer member 74 in any suitable manner. The bar 75 further includes a horizontally disposed portion '77 which terminates in a vertically disposed portion 78. In Figure 5 the numeral 79 indicates an L-shaped runner which includes a vertical portion which is adapted to engage the ice being traveled on, and the runner 79 further includes a horizontally disposed portion 81 which is connected to the portion 77 of the bar '75 by suitable securing elements 82.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an attachment for use with an ice skate whereby the ice skate can be used with greater facility. In Figures 1-4 of the drawings, there is shown one form of the device of the present invention and it will be seen in Figures 1-4 that the runner 29 includes the vertical portion 31 which is adapted to engage the ice. Thus, the foot of the user is supported on both of the runners or blade' 16 and 31 whereby the foot will be supported with greater stability. The attachment shown in Figures 1-4 is adapted to be connected to the posts 13 of the ice skate 10 through the medium of the clamps 17 and when the attachment is not being used, the various bolts such as the bolts 22 can be removed so as to permit the device to be detached from the ice skate so that the ice skate can be used in the normal or conventional manner. The runner 29 is connected to the bar 24 through the medium of the bolts 52 and suitable slots may be provided so that the runner 29 can be adjusted to the desired or proper position with respect to the blade 16. The bar 24 is connected to the clamps 17 through the medium of bolt and nut assemblies 27.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, the modified attachment is provided with the runner 79 which includes the portion 80 that is adapted to coact with the skate blade 71. The attachment of Figure 10 is adapted to be releasably connected to the posts of the ice skate through the medium of the clamping means 73.

The spacer members such as the spacer member 23 have a wedged shape so as to conform to the curvature of the posts 13.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes. The fillers such as the fillers 21 may be made of hard wood or the like. The clamps 17 include the members 18 which are in the nature of split cones which surround the posts 13. The parts can be adjusted for different lengths of skates, so that the device can be used on childrens skates or skates being used by adults and the distance between the blade and runner can also be adjusted.

The attachment of the present invention may be used on hockey skates or figure skates and the parts are rigidly held in place by means of the previously described clamps.

The device of the present invention will relieve the strain on muscles and ankles and legs while a person is learning to skate on single runner skates. Also, the device will prevent injuries received in the event of a fall and the device is adapted to be clamped to the outside of each skate so that there will be no interference with normal skating. When a person is propelling himself or herself on skates, the person pushes with the foot turned out and wherein the inside edge of each skate is used. The present invention not only prevents injuries but also results in a saving of costs. When children are learning to skate they first require two runner skates to learn the fundamentals and then usually single runner skates or shoe skates are next purchased. Since these are usually worn out on the inside from resting the feet and from weak ankles, it will be seen that the present invention may be purchased so as to eliminate the necessity of purchasing a plurality of different skates.

The trainer skate of the present invention can be used onv single runner skates of difierent sizes or makes. The device of the present invention wil leliminate scuffed and worn down shoes and such shoes usually become worn down along with soles and sides and the device will help to train the skater whether it is being used by children or adults. The device will prevent shoes from being run over, or turned or twisted and pulled out of shape and it will prevent the rivets from being pulled out and Will help to strengthen weak ankles.

While I have shown a preferred form of my invention, I reserve all rights to such modifications as properly fall Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with an ice skate including spaced apart posts, a substantially horizontally disposed rounded enlargement connected to the lower ends of said posts, an elongated blade depending from said enlargement and secured thereto, clamps detachably connected to said posts and each including a first and second body member, said body members embodying flat end portions and an intermediate curved portion, securing elements connecting the flat end portions of said body members together, a spacer member secured to one of the body members of each clamp, an L-shaped bar including a vertically disposed portion provided with a pair of spaced apart slots therein, securing elements extending from said spacer members and projecting through said slots, said bar further including a horizontally disposed portion, an L-shaped runner including an upper horizontally disposed flange adjustably connected to the horizontally disposed portion of said bar, and said runner further including a vertically disposed ice engaging portion.

2. in an ice skate including spaced apart posts, an enlargement connected to the ends of said posts, a blade depending from said enlargement and secured thereto, clamping means detachably connected to said posts and arranged above said enlargement, a spacer member secured to said clamping means, a bar including a first vertically disposed portion connected to said spacer member, said bar further including a horizontally disposed second portion terminating in a downwardly extending third portion, and an L-shaped runner including a horizontally disposed portion connected to the horizontally disposed portion of said bar, and said runner further including a vertically disposed portion connected to the vertically disposed portion of said bar.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,855 Wachs Jan. 16, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS 52,785 Germany July 25, 1890 7,887 Great Britain Apr. 17,1901 of 1901 14,125 Great Britain June 16, 1909 of 1909 29,827 Great Britain Dec. 27, 1912 of 1912 

